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Statement on Passage of Bills Requiring Reporting on Medicaid Adult Core Quality Measures as Part of the Opioid Package
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2018
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF BILLS REQUIRING REPORTING ON
MEDICAID ADULT CORE QUALITY MEASURES AS PART OF THE OPIOID PACKAGE
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), today made the following statement upon the passage of H.R. 5583 by voice vote in the House of Representatives, which would mandate the reporting of Medicaid adult core quality measures relating to behavioral health. At the same time, a bill with similar language passed out of the Senate Finance Committee:
“We laud the efforts of Congress to develop better insight into the quality of care delivered across the entirety of the Medicaid program. This is an important step toward improving care in Medicaid and CHIP in general, and care for opioid use disorder in particular.
“The recent release of the Medicaid and CHIP quality scorecard from CMS highlighted the challenges inherent in drawing meaningful comparisons without a consistent flow of comprehensive, reliable data. ACAP has consistently advocated for mandatory reporting on a core set of pediatric and adult quality measures allowing for comparisons between managed care, fee-for-service, and other Medicaid delivery systems. We’re pleased that this action follows through on the work started on the Bipartisan Budget Act, and brings similar reporting on quality of care delivered to adults through Medicaid as it did for children.
“All of us with an interest in Medicaid—patients, plans, providers and policymakers—deserve to be shown, not told, how well care is being delivered, regardless of the structure of the delivery system. This is the right thing to do. We call upon the Senate to finish the work of the House, pass a bill that includes the language of H.R. 5583, and send it to President Trump for his signature.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 61 Safety Net Health Plans, which provide health coverage to more than 21 million people in 29 states. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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